Mission
The mission of the History Department at California State University, Sacramento is to promote an understanding, appreciation, and enthusiasm for history. In the undergraduate major and graduate programs, the Department seeks to provide students with an advanced critical understanding of the process of history, diversity and depth of historical knowledge, and sufficient bibliographic and research skills to conduct independent research.
This goal is consistent with California’s educational policy. The study of history has been used extensively in secondary and higher education to enhance literacy, national identity and citizenship. This important function is recognized in the California State Education Code 40404 and the current General Education pattern of Sacramento State that mandates a course in United States history and makes it probable that most students will take at least one other history course in world civilizations. Consequently, since the origins of Sacramento State in 1947 history has been an important part of the undergraduate and graduate curriculum of this university. The History program’s key role in the academic life of the University was recognized by the University Academic Plan (October 1993) that placed all of the department’s programs in Category I.B., which was defined as “programs central to the mission” of the University, where student enrollment should be maintained.
